BC Lions are 2011 Grey Cup champions

Go ahead, feel free to exhale and take in the most improbable Grey Cup win. It took awhile Sunday, but Travis Lulay and the B.C. Lions hoisted the trophy for the sixth time in franchise history in a way nobody would have foreseen three months ago.

The CFL's most outstanding player took awhile figuring out what stood in the way of the perfect ending, but darned if he didn't use a couple of kids and a pair of veteran hands to cap the worst-to-first season.

The Lions quarterback put the ball in the hands of sophomore Andrew Harris and Kierrie Johnson, each of whom responded with touchdowns, and veteran Arland Bruce, who came alive in the second half.

Bruce's fourth-quarter touchdown, which came just after Lulay nearly gifted a touchdown to Bombers defender was pivotal. It gave B.C. just enough for a 34-23 win over the Winnipeg Blue Bombers before 54,313 fans.

Lulay added the game's most valuable player award. Harris was voted top Canadian.

Like every other game since they returned to play downtown, the Lions started smartly on offence. This time, however, they did not run away from the Bombers, who were just as proficient defensively and as such only trailed 14-6 at the half.

Lulay worked the intermediate game early and got some results on the second offensive possession for the Lions when Andrew Harris ran in from 19 yards out, continuing the run of excellence by the Winnipeg native. The touchdown was the ninth by the former Nanaimo junior since the Lions returned to B.C. Place Sept. 30.

B.C. had other chances too, and at one point looked as if it might pull away thanks to its defensive work, holding an 11-0 lead. Anton McKenzie picked off a Buck Pierce pass and the Lions as a result had three straight offensive possessions inside Bombers territory.

But the Lions could only get a pair of short field goals by Paul McCallum, and the defensive stops seemed to give the Bombers a lift. Simon couldn't stay in-bounds after one completion when he was headed for the end zone prior to one kick. Sophomore Shawn Gore got behind coverage on another deep pass attempt by Lulay but had the ball go through his finger-tips.

Lulay and the B.C. offence had four two-and-outs in the opening half and the Lions did not have a first down in the second quarter. The trouble for Winnipeg, however, is that the Bombers could only produce two Justin Palardy field goals, though Pierce began to slice through the Lions using play-action.

No visiting team had held a halftime lead at home on the Lions since Oct. 8 when the Calgary Stampeders had a bit of breathing room, and there was a certain nervousness to the pro-B.C. crowd as it settled in to take in the Nickelback halftime performance, which almost matched the commotion in the press box when rocker Gene Simmons showed up during the intermission.

The hiccups continued in the third quarter, as a opening-possession B.C. first down pass was wiped out by a penalty by the Lions, who were far less disciplined than the Bombers but played nothing like the team which had the fewest flags in the league during the regular season.

A high snap past Pierce turned into a four-yard run because of sloppy tackling, bringing Winnipeg close enough for Palardy's third field goal on the Bombers' opening possession.

Even McCallum appeared mortal; his 48-yard field goal attempt hit the goal post. It was the first miss by the 41-year-old in 35 straight playoff attempts. The Bombers had succeeded in taking the crowd out of the contest.

The near-misses continued by the receivers. Harris was just out of bounds on a Lulay pass in the end zone and McCallum was summoned for a 22-yarder to restore an eight-point edge.

But Lulay kept firing and rookie Kierrie Johnson got behind veteran Jonathan Hefney for a 66-yard score that brought the crowd again to life as the Lions led 24-9 heading into the final quarter.

And that changed the game in the Lions favour, as Pierce no longer had the luxury of staying patient to the running game, which meant the B.C. defence got busy.

Lulay nearly gave the Johnson touchdown back when he nearly threw the ball into the arms of Bombers end Odell Willis with nothing in front of him but the goal line. But Willis dropped the ball before running and the Lions dodged a major bullet.

Lulay made up for the mistake when he and Bruce raced down the field, finishing an 82-yard drive with a six-yard score which seemed to be enough.

However the Bombers weren't done. Pierce found Greg Carr for a 45-yard score and another big Johnson punt runback set the Bombers in position for a 13-yard Terrence Edwards touchdown.

With 1:37 left, the Bombers still had a chance, but their onside kick was short and the Lions had perfect ending to a head-shaking season.

Offence – Any argument about the move to get Arland Bruce now? He had his issues early, but when the Lions needed his experience, he came through royally, sealing the win with his fourth-quarter touchdown.

Defence – Early plays paid big dividends. Tad Kornegay had a knockdown in the end zone. Eric Taylor had pass block too. Khalif Mitchell had a key fourth quarter sack. But LB Anton McKenzie was all over the field quarterbacking the defence. If it's his final game with the Lions, he played one worth remembering.

Special teams – Paul McCallum's directional punting was superb again for the Lions, but Tim Brown work returning kicks aided massively in providing B.C. better field position than the Lions have enjoyed in several outings.

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